GET YOUR

HOPES UP!
Expect Something Good to
Happen to You Every Day

Joyce Meyer

NEW YORK BOSTON NASHVILLE

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Copyright 2015 by Joyce Meyer

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Meyer, Joyce, 1943 Get your hopes up! : expect something good to happen to you every day /
Joyce Meyer. First Edition.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-1-4555-1731-2 (hardcover) ISBN 978-1-4555-8951-7
(large-print h
ardcover) ISBN 978-1-4555-1730-5 (ebook) ISBN 978-1-61113-259-5
(audiobook) ISBN 978-1-4555-3230-8 (audio download) ISBN 978-1-4555-3231-5
(spanish trade pbk.) ISBN 978-1-4555-8871-8 (international edition)
1. Expectation (Psychology)Religious aspectsChristianity. 2. HopeReligious
aspectsChristianity. I.Title.
BV4647.E93M49 2015
248.4dc23
2014048830

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INTRODUCTION

Without faith, it is impossible to please God, and those who come

to Him must believe that He is a Rewarder of those who diligently
seek Him (see Hebrews 11:6). Faith is the title deed of the things we
hope for (see Hebrews 11:1). We are promised in Gods Word that
faith the size of a mustard seed can move a mountain (see Matthew
17:20). Abraham hoped in faith that he would receive the promise of
God (see Romans 4:18). Some people try to have faith, but they have
no hope. They dont have a positive expectation that something
good is going to happen to them because of Gods great goodness. I
believe hope precedes and is connected with faith. We cannot have
one without the other. How could a negative, hopeless person be
walking and living by faith? The person may believe in God, but a
man or woman of faith does more than trust that God is alive; they
also believe that He is good, and that He rewards those who seek
Him. They wait for and expect the goodness of God, not because
they deserve it, but because God promises to give it.
Ive spent the last 38 years of my life traveling the world, preaching and teaching the Word of God. Over that time, Ive met so many
incredible peoplepeople just like you. Business owners, housewives, working moms, artists, ministers, entrepreneurs, politicians,
volunteers, single moms, single dads. Ive had the privilege of meeting
men and women from nearly every walk of life.
Some are doing great, seemingly on top of the world. Others
have confided to me that theyre barely getting by, living day to
day, trying to make ends meet. And many others are dealing with

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Introduction

circumstances so difficult that, quite frankly, they feel defeated and

overwhelmed by life.
But no matter the person, and no matter the situation, Ive discovered there is one thing they all desperately needone thing we all
desperately need: hope.
Hope is the happy and confident anticipation of good. Its a
powerful and universal inspiration, a rising tide that lifts all boats.
Whether we are limping into port, stuck at the dock, or sailing
boldly out to sea, hope buoys our spirits, daring us to believe You
know what? Things might just work out after all. Its the sometimes
unexplainable, but always undeniable, feeling that today would be a
bad day to give up. Hope is a belief that something good is about to
happen at any moment!
This is why I believe a book on hope is necessary and that it
will help you see hopes amazing possibilities. In fact, the Bible
tells us it is one of the three things that remain when all else fails
(see 1 Corinthians 13:13). Regardless of who you are or what condition your life is in right now, you cant function successfully
in life w
ithout hope. If circumstances are bad, you surely need
hope, and if they are good, you need hope that they will stay that
way. When you live in the garden of hope, something is always
blooming!
But as great as hope is, it can easily be misplaced. If your hope
clings to a person, its an unreliable source of strength. If your
hope is in your place of employment, your ability to make money,
or your retirement fund, it may disappoint you. If your hope rests
in your own ability, it will fade when your confidence is shaken.
Its pretty simple, really: Hope is only as strong as its source.
Thats why the foundation of our hope must be God and the
promises found in His Word. If God is not the source, hope is
just a w ishful thought, a momentary respite. As a matter of fact,
the hope I am urging you to have is very different from what the
world might call hope. The believers hope is in the unshakable,

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xi

all-powerful, all-knowing, and ever-present one true God and His

Son, Jesus Christ.
You could say it this way: Without hope in God, there isnt much
you can do, but with hope in God, there isnt much you cant do.
Dedicated reading and study of the Word shows us what happens
when Gods children dared to live with hope. Throughout the Old
and New Testament, we see regular p
eoplepeople with flaws and
failures just like u
sovercome impossible odds because they chose
to hope that God had something incredible on the horizon...they
put their faith in Him.
Though the Hebrew children had been slaves in Egypt for
many generations, the hope of freedom compelled Moses to dream
of deliverance from their cruel oppressors.
While the Israelite army hid in the trenches in fear of Goliath,
the hope for victory caused David to ask What shall be done for
the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from
Israel? (1 Samuel 17:26).
In the face of Hamans evil plot to destroy her people, the hope
that she could make a difference gave Esther the courage to break
convention and request an audience with the king.
Leaving jobs, friends, and even family behind, the hope that
Jesus could be the promised Messiah caused ordinary men to drop
everything and follow Him all the way to the cross.
Do you see the w
ide-ranging, barrier-shattering nature of hope? In
each of these biblical examples, hope was more than a motivational
thought or a fading daydream; hope was a nothingisimpossible-with-
God firestorm refusing to be quenched.

For Moses, hope broke chains.

For David, hope asked the question no one else had the courage to ask.

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xii

Introduction

For Esther, hope believed against all odds that God could use
her to save her people from destruction.
For the disciples, hope gave them courage to embark on a new
life and become world changers.
I believe hope can do those same things in your life. Thats why
Im excited youre reading this book. And thats why Im excited to
use the stories, biblical principles, and practical life lessons youll
find on each page to encourage you to go ahead and get your hopes
up! Do it on purpose...grab hold passionately and refuse to live
without hope!
You see, your whole life, whether you realize it or not, the world
has been telling you Dont get your hopes up. Past hurts, present disappointments, and future uncertainties all teach you to temper your
expectationsBe rational, stay calm, dont expect too much because
you may get disappointed.
The pregnancy test comes back positive...dont get your hopes up;
you remember what happened last time. The person who hurt you
apologizes and wants to make things right...dont get your hopes
up; he might hurt you again. An exciting opportunity opens up at
work...dont get your hopes up; it probably wont pan out.
But a life with no hope isnt much of a life at all. You may say youre
just being c arefulBetter safe than sorry, Joycebut youre really
just afraid. Afraid of getting hurt, afraid of being disappointed, afraid
of taking a chance. The fear may exist for good reason. Perhaps you
have been severely hurt in life and experienced many discouraging
and disappointing things. Experience tells you that nothing is ever
going to change, but Gods Word tells us something better. It says
that all things are possible with God!
It is time for a change in your life! Trust God enough to hope for
the best: the best relationship, the best opportunity, the best marriage, the best news, the best outcome, the best life. Expect something good to happen to you today!

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xiii

God wants you to have the best life possible. If you ever doubt
thats true, just remember that He gave His best when He sent Jesus.
Jesus died so that, if you accept His gift of salvation, you could enjoy
eternity in Heaven; but He also died so you could enjoy a good life
here on Earth.
In John 10:10, Jesus said, I came that they may have and enjoy
life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
As you go through this book, I hope youll see that God wants you
to have and enjoy life. He wants the best for you spiritually, mentally, emotionally, relationally, and p
hysicallyevery year, every
day, every moment. And when you know that God wants the best
for you, you cant help but be filled with hope. God wants to meet all
your needs and enable you to help other people.
So, if youre hurting today, doubting if things will ever get
better...get your hopes up.
If youre just getting by in life, going through the
motions but asking if there is anything more...get your
hopes up.
If youre raising children, wondering what life has in
store for them...get your hopes up.
If youre starting out on an exciting new adventure,
risking more than youve ever risked before...get your
hopes up.
When you dare to get your hopes up, things will begin to change
in your life. Faith increases, joy returns, and peace reigns. So if
youre satisfied to settle for barely getting by, this is as good as it gets,
or better luck next time, you should probably put this book down
now.
But if youre ready for a c hangeif youre ready for something
betterkeep reading. Hope has a way of beautifully transforming
the lives of all who embrace it. Its the catalyst that sparks ideas

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xiv

Introduction

and imagination (see Proverbs 24:14), the anchor that steadies us

when the storms of life rage (see Hebrews 6:19), the confidence that
dares us to build a better life (see Proverbs 23:18), and the comfort
of knowing were never alone (see Romans 5:5).
If that sounds good to you, be brave enough to do something you
may not have done in a long time: Get your hopes up. Youre going
to be glad you did, because God is waiting to be gracious to you.

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SECTION I

HOPE TO GO HIGHER
...But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles...
Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)

Quite often people feel that it would be greedy or wrong to hope for
more than they have. While it is true that we should always be content and satisfied with what we have, that certainly doesnt mean
that desiring more of the right things is wrong as long as we desire
them for the right reasons. How can we be content and yet want
more at the same time? I am very content right now with everything
in my life because I believe Gods timing in my life is perfect. I could
be quite happy and never have more of anything because my joy
and contentment are in Christ. Yet, at the same time, I want more of
everything because I want to go as far in life as God allows and do
as much for Him and others as humanly possible. I want no more
and no less than the best life God wants to give me!
I want more of God in my life, a closer, more intimate walk with
Him (see Philippians 3:10). I want more wisdom, more stability, and
more good friends. I want more for my children, and I want more
people to accept Christ as their Savior. I want to see more miracles,
healing, breakthroughs, and power.
I sincerely believe that we can be satisfied to the point where we

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G E T YO U R H O P E S U P !

are not disturbed or disquieted with what we have, while at the

same time desiring more for the right reasons and at the right time
(see Philippians 4:11, 19).
I actually believe those who are content with anything less than
all God can do for them are hindering Gods greatness. He wants to
show Himself strong in each of our lives. He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, above and beyond all that we could ever dare
to ask or think, infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires,
thoughts, hopes, or dreams (see Ephesians 3:20).

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CHAPTER

Raise Your Level of Expectation

Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good
courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait
for and hope for and expect the Lord.
Psalm 27:14

High expectations are the key to everything.

Sam Walton

Let me tell you a story about a woman named Betty. Betty is a

believer. She reads her Bible on a regular basis. And she volunteers
by passing out blankets to the homeless once a month. Betty sounds
beautiful, doesnt she?
Well, there is something else about Betty you should know: Her
friends call her Bad-News Betty when shes not around. They feel
terrible about the nickname, but in all fairness, Betty has earned
it; she has a way of expecting, predicting, and finding the worst in
almost every situation. Ill give you an example.
Last summer, Betty and her husband (Failure Phil) went on a
family vacation with their two children (WontAmounttoMuch
Will and Middleofthe-Pack Megan). Now, I should tell you that
Phil is a loving husband and Will and Megan are great kids, but
Betty doesnt have high hopes for them. She doesnt expect much
for them either. As a matter of fact, she kind of assumes the worst,
hence their nicknames.

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G E T YO U R H O P E S U P !

Months earlier, Phil and Betty had planned a summer week at a

popular vacation destination, but as the trip grew closer, Betty just
knew it was going to be a disaster. As they drove the 300 miles to
their vacation spot, Betty kept complaining, This was a bad idea.
The lines to do anything in the park are going to be a mile long. I
doubt the hotel will be as good as advertised. I bet its going to rain
the whole week. Phil and the kids tried to assure Betty it would be
finethey could make the best of any situationbut Bettys sour
mood was unfazed. Poor Phil, Will, and Megan...the 3
00-mile
drive felt like 1,000 miles of drudgery.
Its safe to say the vacation lived down to Bettys expectations.
The lines at the water park were a little longer than usual. Phil,
Will, and Megan didnt mindthis gave them a few extra minutes
to laugh together and plan what ride to go on nextbut Betty was
terribly upset. I knew this was going to happen, she muttered.
The restaurant they chose to dine at the first night wasnt perfect
either. The waitress informed Phil and Betty they were out of the
soft drink the couple ordered. Phil chose a different drink; Betty
chose a depressing attitude. Unbelievable! she sighed.
But the straw that broke the camels back was the hotel room.
When the family settled into their room for the night, they discovered the TV wasnt working properly. I knew it! I knew it! I knew
it! an exasperated Betty griped. I knew this hotel wasnt going to
be any good. Phil called the front desk, and maintenance quickly
brought a new television up, but the damage was already done.
Bad-News Betty had her bad-news vacation . . .this was exactly
what she expected.

An Issue of the Heart

The story of Betty is a fictitious account of someone who looks an
awful lot like you and me at times. Weve all found ourselves dealing with pessimistic attitudes and low e xpectationsdescribing

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Raise Your Level of Expectation

the weather as partly cloudy rather than partly sunny, seeing

the glass as half empty instead of half full.
For Betty, her low expectations kept her from enjoying a summer vacation, but for many people, low expectations keep them
from enjoying their lives. They go through each day with negative,
faultfinding, critical attitudes, rarely hoping for the best because
theyre too busy expecting the worst. When things are going
poorly they think I had a feeling today was going to be a bad day,
and when things are going well they think This probably wont
last long. Good days or bad, on the mountaintop or in the valley,
theyre not enjoying their lives...because theyve never expected
they could. Perhaps you and I are not as bad as Betty, but to be
honest, any degree of hopelessness has a devastating effect on our
lives. Why not believe the best and open the door to see what God
will do?
Low expectations are more than a few grumpy complaints on
a longer-than-usual Monday or a feeling that maybe you woke up
on the wrong side of the bed. Low expectations are symptoms of a
deeper problem, a spiritual problem. A person may have a history
of disappointments that caused him to form a habit of expecting
more of the same. Some people have such low self-esteem that they
assume they are not worth anything nice, so they never expect it.
And then there are those who dont know that God is good and
wants to do good things for His children. The risks these symptoms
pose are significant. If we were to describe whats happening in our
souls the same way we would describe a physical ailment, it might
sound something like this:
Doctor: So, you say youre spiritually and emotionally under the
weather. Please tell me your symptoms.
Patient: Well, Doctor, Ive got a bad feeling about the future. I
have had a lot of disappointments in my life, and I rarely
expect things to work out for me or for my family.

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G E T YO U R H O P E S U P !

Doctor: Your symptoms tell me everything I need to know. Youve

got a bad case of hopelessness.
Bettys symptoms were negativity, worry, and complaining. These
symptoms were caused by a condition of her heart: hopelessness.
Instead of hoping for a great family vacation, Betty assumed the
worst. The lines are going to be long. Well never find a good restaurant.
The hotel will be terrible. There is no hope in any of those thoughts.
However, Phil, Will, and Megan had different symptoms. They were
positive, upbeat, cheerful, and ready to make the most of any situation. They were full of hope, and their expectations were sky high.
Its important to realize that the circumstances were the same for
Betty and her family, but the ways they reacted to those circumstances were different. They all stood in long lines; they all ate at
the same restaurant; they all sat down in front of the broken television. When these things happened, Bettys low expectations were
confirmed, causing her to want to give up. For the rest of the family,
their high expectations were challenged, but they chose to remain
hopeful and joyful, which enabled them to find ways to deal with
the circumstances and move on, enjoying every step of the way.
With that picture in mind, let me ask you an important question:
What are your symptoms? If you were to conduct an honest evaluation of your heart, what would you find there?
Are you like Phil, Will, and Megan? Excited about the future,
expecting today to be better than yesterday and tomorrow to be
even better than today? Do you wake up each morning with a happy
anticipation that God is going to do
something amazing in your life?
Do you wake up each
Or are you more like B
ad-
News
morning with a happy
Betty? Do you find yourself bracing
anticipation that God is
for the worst? Do you worry about bad
going to do something
things happening before they actually
amazing in your life?
happen? Do you use phrases like here

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Raise Your Level of Expectation

we go again, this will never work out, I shouldve known things would go
sour, and Ive got a bad feeling about this?

The Faith Connection

Evaluating our hearts is an important exercise as we begin this
journey of hope together, because hope in God and positive expec
tation are very closely related to faith. For the sake of discussion,
we can easily say that the level of your expectation is the level of
your faith. Show me a person with low
expectations, and Ill show you a perShow me a person with
son using very little faith. But show me
big expectations, and
a person with big expectations, and Ill
Ill show you a person
show you a person acting with bold
acting with bold faith.
faith. Just remember that we are talking
about having our expectation in God. It
is more than a mere positive attitude; it is trusting God to take care
of you and everything that concerns you.
The Word of God tells us that our faithour positive, hopeful
expectationpleases God (see Hebrews 11:6), and several times
in the Gospels, we see that Jesus was moved to act because of the
faiththe expectationsof those He encountered (see Matthew
9:29, Mark 5:34, Luke 7:50, and Luke 17:19). One such miracle is
found in Mark chapter 10. I love this story, and I think it has great
relevance for you and me today because its all about the importance
of expectation.
Mark 10:46 47 says:
...As [Jesus] was leaving Jericho with His disciples and a
great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, a son of Timaeus,
was sitting by the roadside. And when he heard that it was
Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, saying, Jesus, Son of
David, have pity and mercy on me [now]!

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G E T YO U R H O P E S U P !

If you think about it, Bartimaeus had every reason to expect the
worst. He was a blind beggar who sat by the roadside every day,
trying to survive on spare change. He was living a very difficult
life, and if anybody was going to tone down his level of expectation, you would think it would be Bartimaeus. He could have
thought This is useless. It wont work. Nothings going to change. Jesus
probably wont even notice me. Why get my hopes up? No one would
have blamed him.
But Bartimaeus dared to hope for something greater in life. He
started to think about what might happen instead of what might not
happen. There was nothing toned down about his level of expectation as he began to shout with all of his might, Jesus, Son of David,
have pity and mercy on me [now]! Can you hear the insistence in
his voice? Its as if Bartimaeus had decided there was absolutely no
way he was going to miss this chance. Even though many in the
crowd censured and reproved him, telling him to keep still (see
Mark 10:48), Bartimaeus would not be quieted. He shouted louder
and louder until Jesus stopped and called for him.
Here is one of the most amazing parts of this story: When Bartimaeus was brought to Jesus, the Lord asked him an almost unthinkable question. In verse 51, Jesus said to this blind beggar, What do
you want Me to do for you?
That seems like a strange question, doesnt it? The disciples may
have been thinking What do you want me to do for you? Lord, isnt
it obvious? The man is blind. How can You ask him that? But Jesus was
asking something d
eeperHe was asking Bartimaeus: What are you
expecting? Are you only expecting a meal? Are you wanting someone
to lead you around by the hand? Are you merely expecting a handout?
All of those things were certainly things Bartimaeus needed, and if
he was living with little faith, he may have settled for one of those
things.
But Bartimaeus had a greater level of expectation. When Jesus
asked, What do you want Me to do for you? Bartimaeus didnt

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Raise Your Level of Expectation

hesitate, he didnt have to think about it, he didnt wonder if he was

asking for too much. Bartimaeus boldly said, Master, let me receive
my sight. You probably know the rest of the story. Jesus was greatly
moved by Bartimaeus faith. Verse 52 says: And Jesus said to him,
Go your way; your faith has healed you. And at once he received his
sight and accompanied Jesus on the road.
Because Bartimaeus was bold enough to believe for Gods best,
that is exactly what he received from the Lord. The same is true in
your life, and this is why the level of your expectation is so important to the kind of life youre going to live. If you dont expect God to
do anything great in your life, He wont. But if you dare to raise your
level of expectation and begin anticipating that God wants to do something
God is for you and has
great in your life, youll begin to dream,
a great plan for your
believe, ask, and act with a confident
life.
boldness, knowing God is for you and
has a great plan for your life.
Just in case you are questioning if it is acceptable for you to
expect good things from God, please slowly read and meditate on
this Scripture in Isaiah.
And therefore the Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, look
ing, and longing] to be gracious to you; and therefore He lifts
Himself up, that He may have mercy on you and show l oving-
kindness to you. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed
(happy, fortunate, to be envied) are all those who [earnestly]
wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for
His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His
matchless, unbroken companionship]!
Isaiah 30:18
God is looking for those He can be good to, and if you are looking
for (expecting) God to be good to you, then you qualify. Expect God

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10

G E T YO U R H O P E S U P !

to give you Himself because He is more important than anything

else, but remember that with Him comes all the other things we will
ever need.

Three Steps to Raise the Level

of Your Expectation
You may be reading this chapter and thinking Joyce, that sounds
great, but how am I supposed to expect more? Im running from one
appointment to another, barely paying my bills, just trying to keep the
kids fed or the company afloat. And Ive spent my whole life working as
hard as I can to get to this point. How in the world do I raise my level of
expectation?
There is so much I could say about f aiththousands upon thousands of books have been written on the topicbut I want to give
you three simple steps that can get you started today. These three
steps will help you raise your level of expectation:
1. Believe.
Children of God are called believers for a reason. When
youre tempted to doubt, tempted to give up, tempted to call it
quits, choose to believe instead.
When youre tempted to
Belief is the basis of your faith. Believe
doubt, tempted to give
Gods Word. Believe His promises are
up, tempted to call it
true. Believe He loves you, and believe
quits, choose to believe
He has something beautiful in store for
instead.
your life. Jesus said that if we would
only believe, then we would see Gods
glory (see John 11:40). Glory is the manifestation of all of the
excellence of God.
2. Ask.
James 4:2 says: You do not have, because you do not ask.
Once you have chosen to believe God can meet every need in

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Raise Your Level of Expectation

11

your life, go ahead and ask God to meet those needs. Share
your dreams with Him. Just as Jesus asked Bartimaeus,
What do you want Me to do for you? He is asking you the
same question. Be bold enough to ask the Lord to do something only He can do. Obviously, we should all want Gods
will and trust that if what we are asking for isnt right for us,
God wont give it to us but instead He will give us something
better.
3. Look.
As you go through each day, expect that God is answering
your prayer, meeting your need, and fulfilling your G
od-given
dream. Even if you havent seen the manifestation of what
you desire yet, or if it has not happened in the way you hoped
it would, that doesnt mean God isnt working. Continue to
have an expectant attitude, and be sure to notice everything
God is doing. Be thankful for those things while you are waiting for the thing you desire or need now.
Whatever youre hoping for todaya deeper walk with
God, a better understanding of Gods Word, a stronger marriage, a financial breakthrough, a chance to go back to school,
a ministry opportunity, a fresh startif its in your heart (and
if it lines up with the Word of God), believe, ask, expect, and
look.

The Real Change that Comes with

Higher Expectations
Your life will go only as high as the level
not that your expectations immediately
change the environment or the circumstances around you, but your expectations change the way you react to that
environment and those circumstances.

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of your expectations. Its

Your life will go only as
high as the level of your
expectations.

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G E T YO U R H O P E S U P !

Your expectations change you. They cause you to be able to wait for
a change in your circumstances with a happy attitude. They cause
you to be a bold, confident, joy-filled believer who trusts that God
has a great plan for your life.
Heres a simple story I came across that demonstrates the joy
that comes with great expectations:
There were once identical twins. They were alike in every
way but one. One was a h
ope-filled optimist who only
saw the bright side of life in every situation. The other
was a dark pessimist who only saw the downside of every
situation.
The parents were so worried about the extremes of
optimism and pessimism in their boys that they took
them to the doctor. The doctor suggested a plan. On
their next birthday, he said, give the pessimist a shiny
new bike, but give the optimist only a pile of manure.
It seemed a fairly extreme thing to do. After all, the
parents had always treated their boys equally. But in this
instance they decided to try the doctors advice. So when
the twins birthday came around, the parents gave the
pessimist the most expensive, topofthe-line racing bike
a child has ever owned. When he saw the bike, his first
words were Ill probably crash and break my leg.
To the optimist, they gave a carefully wrapped box of
manure. He opened it, looked puzzled for a moment, then
ran outside screaming You cant fool me! Where theres
this much manure, theres gotta be a pony around here
somewhere!1

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Raise Your Level of Expectation

13

Get Your Hopes Up!

I want to encourage you to raise your level of expectation today.
It doesnt matter what the situation looks like around you; God is
greater than any obstacle you may be facing. Dont assume that
where youve been, or where you are,
is as good as it gets. Dont believe that
Dont assume that
your history is your destiny. Choose,
where youve been,
or where you are, is as
instead, to believe God is going to do
good as it gets.
something even better in your life.
Jesus is asking What do you want Me
to do for you? Thats a pretty powerful question, so go ahead and
get your hopes up. There must be a pony around here somewhere!

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